Teen Titans (season 2)

Teen Titans (season 2)
Season 2 promo cover.
Starring	Scott Menville Ashley Johnson Tara Strong Greg Cipes Khary Payton Hynden Walch
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	13
Release
Original network	Cartoon Network Kids WB
Original release	January 10, 2004 – February 12, 2005

The second season of the animated television series Teen Titans, based on the DC comics series of the same time by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani, originally aired on Cartoon Network in the United States. Developed by television writer David Slack, the series was produced by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The series focuses on a team of crime-fighting teenaged superheroes, consisting of the leader Robin, foreign alien princess Starfire, green shapeshifter Beast Boy, the technological genius Cyborg, and dark sorceress Raven. The season focuses on a new character Terra, a hero possessing the ability to move the earth while struggling to accept her boundaries and the Titans as her friends.

The season premiered on January 10, 2004 and ran until August 21, 2004, broadcasting 13 episodes. The season also aired on Kids WB on later dates. The season re-aired on Kids' WB during the 2007–08 U.S. network television season on the The CW for the final time, but instead airing episodes out of order.

Warner Bros. Home Video released the second season on DVD in the United States on September 12, 2006 and in Canada on September 26, 2006. Upon release of the season on DVD, the season received generally positive reviews from critics, with the Terra story arc receiving critical acclaim.

Production

Season two of Teen Titans aired on Cartoon Network Saturday nights at 9:00 P.M., from January 10 to August 21, 2004.^[1] During its broadcast, the series shifted from programming blocks Toonami to Miguzi, beginning April 17, 2004.^[2] The season was produced by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, executive produced by Sander Schwartz and produced by Glen Murakami, Bruce Timm and Linda M. Steiner. Staff directors for the series included Michael Chang, Ciro Nieli and Alex Soto. The episodes for the season were written by a team of writers, which included Adam Beechen, Rick Copp, Rob Hoegee, Dwayne McDuffie, David Slack, and Amy Wolfram. Producer Murakami worked with Derrick Wyatt, Brianne Drouhard, and Jon Suzuki on character design while Hakjoon Kang was the background designer for the series.

Cast and characters

The second season featured vocal talents from a variety of veteran film, television and voice actors, including Thomas Haden Church (left). The season also featured voice actor Dee Bradley Baker (right) providing a voice for several characters.

The five main voice actors providing voices for the main characters - Scott Menville, Hynden Walch, Greg Cipes, Khary Payton and Tara Strong - reprise their roles in the second season as Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven, respectively. In addition to her role as Raven, Strong voices the character Kitten in the episode "Date with Destiny." Season two also debuts Terra, a hero with the ability to move the earth around her, with actress Ashley Johnson providing her voice. Ron Perlman reprises his role as the Titans' main villain Slade, in four episodes of the season. Dee Bradley Baker returns to the series, providing voices for several characters, including the Alien Dog and villain Soto in "Every Dog Has His Day"; Plasmus in two episodes; Overload in part one of the season finale; and Larry, Robin's double from another dimension, in the episode "Fractured." Wil Wheaton returns to his role of Aqualad in the episode "Winner Take All."

Season two of Teen Titans featured numerous guest actors providing voices for recurring and guest characters. In the episode "How Long is Forever?", Xander Berkeley plays the villain Warp.^[3] Keith David and actor and comedian John DiMaggio provided the voices of Atlas and Spike in "Only Human."^[4] In the episode "Fear Itself", veteran voice actress Tress MacNeille and actor Alexander Polinsky provide the voices of Horror Movie Actress and the villain Control Freak, respectively.^[5] Film actor Thomas Haden Church provided the voice of Killer Moth, a villain who breeds an insect army, in the episode "Date with Destiny." Will Friedle also voices the characters Fang and a frozen promgoer in the episode.^[6] The episode "Transformation" features narration by British actor Tony Jay and voice acting from Cathy Cavadini as the Cironielian chrysalis eater.^[7] In the episode "Winner Take All", Mike Erwin provided the voice of Speedy while Jim Cummings provided the voices of the Master of Games, the episode's main villain, and Wildebeest.^[8] Musician Henry Rollins voiced the character Johnny Rancid in the episode "Fractured".^[9]

Reception

Critics praised the story arc centered on new character Terra (voiced by Ashley Johnson (pictured)).

The season received generally positive reviews from critics with the Terra story arc receiving critical acclaim. Writing for IGN, Filip Vuckevic gave the series an 8 out of 10, calling "is as fresh as it is fun." Vuckevic praised the season's visual, highlighting the episode "Fractured" as an example, and the story arc focused on Terra.^[10] John Sinnott of DVD Talk deemed the second season release as "Highly Recommended", writing that "These shows are just as entertaining as the first season episodes were. They are action filled, but the characters have real personalities. There is a good amount of humor and the occasional touching scene that works well." Sinnott highlighted episodes "How Long is Forever", "Fear Itself", and "Fractured" as his favorites while "Only Human" was his least favorite. Sinnott praised the episodes centered on Terra as "a pretty good adaptation of a great comic story."^[11] Mac McEntire of DVD Verdict praised the Terra story arc as "expertly played" and further commended the series's more dramatic moments, including the mud fight between Tara and Raven, "Beast Boy's late-night date with Terra and Robin's last-ditch effort to sway her to good." However, McEntire remained critical of the comedic aspect of the series, noting that the "two key elements of the series—the action and the comedy—were often at odds with each other." He also criticized the lack of back story for the main characters.^[12]

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Air date[13]
14	1	"How Long is Forever?"	Alex Soto	David Slack	January 10, 2004
Starfire is trying to commemorate the Tamaranian holiday Blorthog, a festival of friendship, but is disheartened at the sight of the rest of the team's constant fighting. When Warp, a villain from the future, comes back in time to steal an antique, Starfire follows Warp as he prepares to jump through time, arriving 20 years into the future. She searches for the Titans for help, but finds the team broken up. She attempts to rally the Titans together to take down Warp and return back to her time. Villain(s): Warp
15	2	"Every Dog Has His Day"	Michael Chang	Rob Hoegee	January 17, 2004
Beast Boy goes into the city as a green dog when the rest of the team is too busy for him. He gets captured by a spaceship and played with by the alien Soto, who believes him to be his original dog. Meanwhile, the other Titans have noticed Beast Boy has gone missing, and end up chasing Soto's dog, believing it's their teammate. Villain(s): Soto
16	3	"Terra"	Ciro Nieli	Amy Wolfram	January 24, 2004
The Titans meet Terra, a girl with the power to move the Earth around her, and invite her to stay with the Titans, much to Beast Boy's splendor. A seemingly great addition to the team, Terra later confesses to Beast Boy about her inability to control her powers. While on a mission with the Titans, Terra is confronted by Slade, who knows her secret and taunts her with it. Terra later leaves after the rest of the Titans learn her secret. Villain(s): Slade
17	4	"Only Human"	Alex Soto	Adam Beechen	January 31, 2004
When Cyborg beats Atlas, a self-proclaimed full robot, in an online video game, he challenges Cyborg to a real, physical fight. Due to the limits on his strength while Atlas has none, Cyborg loses to Atlas. Atlas then kidnaps Robin, Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy as his prize and challenges Cyborg to a rematch where his friends' lives are at stake. Villain(s): Atlas
18	5	"Fear Itself"	Michael Chang	Dwayne McDuffie	February 7, 2004
The Titans defeat Control Freak at a video store and receive a scary movie free as reward. After watching the movie, the Titans are awakened by screams and find the tower under siege by mysterious monsters similar to those in the movie, with Raven unable to use her powers. One by one the Titans are taken out, with Raven left to fight the monsters alone. Despite denying her fear, she accepts its and regains control over her powers, vanishing the monsters in the process. She awakes to learn that the monsters accidentally came from Raven's powers as a result of her denial of fear. Villain(s): Control Freak, Raven (subconsciously, the monsters only being embodiments of her suppressed fears)
19	6	"Date with Destiny"	Ciro Nieli	Rick Copp	February 14, 2004
A new villain named Killer Moth breeds an army of insects and unleashes them on the town. However, he promises not to destroy the city only if Robin will take his daughter Kitten to her prom. Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven scope out Killer Moth's lair while Starfire, upset at the prospect of Robin going out with Kitten, attends the prom to keep a close eye on Robin. Villain(s): Killer Moth, Kitten, Fang
20	7	"Transformation"	Alex Soto	Rob Hoegee	February 21, 2004
Starfire wakes up to discover a huge lump on her forehead, which leads to tusks on her neck, long, striped nails, and scaly skin. Believing she is turning into a monster, she leaves and takes refuge on a planet deep into space. She meets a charming, kindhearted alien who dispels her fears. While she becomes encased in a chrysalis, the alien turns out to be a Tamaranian chrysalis eater. Meanwhile, the rest of the Titans search the galaxy for her, eventually finding the planet and rescuing a refreshed Starfire from peril. Villain(s): Cironielian Chrysalis Eater and Plasmus
21	8	"Titan Rising"	Michael Chang	Amy Wolfram	February 28, 2004
Terra returns to the Titans claiming to have control of her powers and everyone except Raven is welcoming. Meanwhile, Slade releases giant drill worms to sink the Titans' Tower. Villain(s): Slade
22	9	"Winner Take All"	Ciro Nieli	Dwayne McDuffie	March 6, 2004
Robin, Beast Boy and Cyborg are summoned by the Master of Games to compete in a "Contest of Champions" against other super powered males. Everyone invited is willing to participate, but Cyborg becomes suspicious when he sees loser contestants vanishing. Villain(s): Master of Games
23	10	"Betrayal"	Alex Soto	Amy Wolfram	July 31, 2004
Terra and Beast Boy go out on a date during the night while the tower is under siege by Slade's minions. Slade then interrupts the date and shows Beast Boy where Terra's loyalties lie. Villain(s): Slade
24	11	"Fractured"	Michael Chang	David Slack	August 7, 2004
Robin is bothered by Larry, his double from a different dimension, who appears after Robin breaks his arm. While wrestling with Larry, Robin breaks Larry's magical finger, causing the city to become distorted. Villain Johnny Rancid takes advantage of the chaos and transforms himself into a darker version of himself. Villain(s): Johnny Rancid
25	12	"Aftershock: Part 1"	Ciro Nieli	David Slack	August 14, 2004
Slade sends a newly-transformed Terra to attack the Teen Titans. Unable to defeat her, the Titans retreat and regroup, planning to break Slade's grip on Terra. Terra frees Cinderblock, Overload and Plasmus for prison and through Slade, disperses them throughout the city to take down the Titans. This turns out to be a decoy to bring the Titans out of hiding and destroy them one by one. Villain(s): Cinderblock, Overload, Plasmus, Slade, Terra
26	13	"Aftershock: Part 2"	Alex Soto	Amy Wolfram	August 21, 2004
With the Titans seemingly gone, Slade has taken control of the city, but the Titans don't go down so easily. They unleash payback on Terra for betraying them to join Slade, which leaves her feeling broken inside more than ever before. Regretting every action since her betrayal, she begs Beast Boy to finish her off before Slade takes control of the situation and causes a horrific and saddening fate that leads to his own demise. Villain(s): Mumbo (in a flashback), Slade, Ternion (Plasmus, Overload and Cinderblock) and Terra

DVD release

Teen Titans - The Complete Second Season
Set details			Special features
13 episodes 2-disc set (DVD) 1.33:1 aspect ratio Subtitles: English, French, Spanish English, French, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo			Featurettes "Catching Up with… Teen Titans: Inside Season 2"
DVD release date
United States			Canada
September 12, 2006[14]			September 26, 2006[15]

References

1. Baisley, Sarah (December 30, 2003). "Teen Titans Returns with New Season Jan. 10". Animation World Network. AWN, Inc. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
2. DeMott, Rick (April 2, 2004). "Cartoon Network Shifts Toonami To Saturday, Creates Miguzi". Animation World Network. AWN, Inc. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
3. Alex Soto (director); David Slack (writer) (January 10, 2004). "How Long is Forever?". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 1. Cartoon Network.
4. Alex Soto (director); Adam Beechen (writer) (January 31, 2004). "Only Human". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 4. Cartoon Network.
5. Michael Chang (director); Dwayne McDuffie (writer) (February 7, 2004). "Fear Itself". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 5. Cartoon Network.
6. Ciro Nieli (director); Rick Copp (writer) (February 14, 2004). "Date with Destiny". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 6. Cartoon Network.
7. Alex Soto (director); Rob Hoegee (writer) (February 21, 2004). "Transformation". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 7. Cartoon Network.
8. Ciro Nieli (director); Dwayne McDuffie (writer) (March 6, 2004). "Winner Takes All". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 9. Cartoon Network.
9. Michael Chang (director); David Slack (writer) (August 7, 2004). "Fractured". Teen Titans. Season 2. Episode 11. Cartoon Network.
10. Vuckevic, Filip (January 4, 2007). "Teen Titans: Season 2 Review". IGN. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
11. Sinnott, John (September 26, 2006). "Teen Titans - The Complete Second Season". DVD Talk. Internet Brands. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
12. McEntire, Mac (October 25, 2006). "Teen Titans: The Complete Second Season". DVD Verdict. Verdict Partners, LLC. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
13. "Teen Titans episode list". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
14. "Teen Titans: Season 2". Amazon. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
15. "Teen Titans: The Complete Second Season (Sous-titres franais)". Canada: Amazon Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2012.